n.
Pronunciation: ' bä-z ə l
Variant: or F Bâle or older Basle \ ' bäl \
Function: geographical name
1 former canton NW Switzerland, now divided into two half cantons: Ba · sel-Land \ ' bä-z ə l- ˌ länt \ (capital Liestal area 165 sq mi or 429 sq km, pop 261,400) & Ba · sel-Stadt \ - ˌ shtät \ (capital Basel area 14 sq mi or 36 sq km, pop 186,700)
2 city NW Switzerland capital of Basel-Stadt pop 164,850